Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, departed from the Milwaukee Bucks’ victorious match against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night, succumbing to an injury to his left calf during the third quarter.
Antetokounmpo collapsed to the floor without any contact while traversing the court after a successful 3-pointer by Celtics’ guard Derrick White.
As the Bucks called for a timeout, Antetokounmpo remained grounded, clutching his left leg. His teammates assisted him off the court and towards the locker room.
Subsequently, Antetokounmpo was officially ruled out in the fourth quarter due to a left soleus strain, a muscle located in the rear part of the calf.
Bucks’ coach Doc Rivers disclosed post-game that Antetokounmpo was undergoing an MRI exam on his calf, with further testing scheduled for his Achilles tendon.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Via NBA/Twitter)
Antetokounmpo’s stats for the game included 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, with a field goal percentage of 7-of-11. He left the arena without addressing reporters.
Expressing his concern, Rivers stated, “High, I would say that… He’s Giannis.” Rivers emphasized the collective hope for the best outcome.
Antetokounmpo had appeared on the injury report prior to the game as questionable due to left hamstring tendinopathy, later upgraded to probable.
He has previously missed three games since mid-March owing to the injury, including a recent match against the Toronto Raptors. Additionally, he sat out a game on March 4 due to left Achilles tendinitis.
Bucks’ guard Damian Lillard articulated the team’s apprehension, especially as Antetokounmpo is considered the linchpin of their squad. Lillard highlighted the significant absence of bystanders during the injury incident.
Bucks vs Celtics (Via NBA/Twitter)
This match marked only the fifth occasion in the last 30 games that the Bucks had Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and Khris Middleton all available.
With three games remaining in the regular season, Middleton stressed the necessity of Antetokounmpo’s recuperation for the playoffs.
Lillard, drawing from personal experience with a similar injury, recounted his recovery timeline, indicating the potential duration of Antetokounmpo’s absence.
Before Tuesday’s game, the Bucks had encountered a four-game losing streak, their longest since December 2022. Despite this, they maintain a one-game lead for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
